Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club

The men of Kilmarnock played golf at Royal Troon in the 1870s and 1880s, however, in those days before cars the 10-mile trek to Troon was deemed too much, so 14 men formed their own club in 1887.

Initially, just 9 holes and then with new land secured adjacent to the railway lines in 1894, facilitating access by train, the Barassie Course was created. Due to steel-shafted clubs and better balls, the course needed lengthening and was reconstructed between 1931-1935.

A new 9 holes have been added more recently and the Barassie today is used for Open Championship Final Qualifying and is ranked amongst the top 65 courses in Scotland.

Kilmarnock Golf Course overview

Located on Scotland’s South West coast between Royal Troon to the south and both Western Gailes and Dundonald Links to the north, Kilmarnock Barassie is a championship links layout measuring over 6800 yards off the tips.

Although a par-72, the SSS of 74 will tell you that this is a tough cookie. A classic links with plenty of humps, hollows and undulations, as well as blind shots and lightning-fast greens. We highly recommend adding this one to your list!

Signature Holes

17 and 18 provide two very tough finishing holes, and if you can get through these relatively unscathed you will have earnt your beer in the clubhouse. Both par-4s, the 17th has disaster written all over it with gorse-lined fairways and strategically placed bunkers throughout, and number 18 a dogleg right that has a tricky 3-tiered green.

Did You Know?

Kilmarnock Golf Club is a 27-hole facility with a new nine holes added in the early 2000s to help lengthen the existing historic Barassie Course. The remaining extra nine holes are called the Hillhouse, a par-34 measuring 2888 yards.